(NAPSI)-These cool tips for helping your car keep on the road to a tip-top transmission come from the experts at the Automatic Transmission Re-builders Association.

1. Start slowly. Hard accelerations create friction and heat in the transmission.

2. Shift smartly. Most of the friction and wear in the transmission occurs during shifts. If you can get a handle on when your transmission is about to shift, you can ease on the gas a bit at the same time.

3. Support the system. Regular service can help your transmission run cooler and last longer.

4. Keep cooler. If you travel in extremely high temperature or carry a lot of weight in your car, an auxiliary transmission cooler can add years to your transmission's life.

To find an ATRA member shop near you, visit www.atra.com, or call 866-GO-4-ATRA.

Driving down your risk of a breakdown can start with regular transmission cooling and servicing.